C-SPAN2 to move to Channel 78

Question: I've just learned that Oceanic Cable will no longer offer C-SPAN2. In order to keep informed about what our government is doing, we have been able to watch our U.S. Senate in session on C-SPAN2. C-SPAN2 should not be discontinued. Can you help?

Answer: Flash! This just in: Oceanic Time Warner Cable's analog cable subscribers on Oahu will not lose C-SPAN2.

Oceanic will move C-SPAN2 from analog Channel 49 to Channel 78 on Feb. 9, when it is scheduled to give 'Olelo Community Television a sixth channel in its public access lineup.

The decision was made Friday and was part of a number of changes Oceanic plans to make to its lineup, Sandy Davis, Oceanic's director of customer care, told Kokua Line yesterday.

Davis explained that, last month, the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs "affirmed that 'Olelo would be granted a sixth channel for a period of one year."

Oceanic already is required to provide at least five channels for public, educational and governmental programming

The department had issued a "decision and order" on June 8, 2005, ordering Oceanic to provide 'Olelo the additional channel.

'Olelo had requested the sixth channel in October 2004 to broaden its programming and "playback capability."

Oceanic appealed that decision. On Dec. 28, in Order No. 326, the department affirmed its earlier decision.

In response to the state's requirement, Oceanic decided it would give 'Olelo Channel 49, which is currently shared by C-SPAN2 and the Game Show Network, Davis said.

Since then, Oceanic decided "to take the same time slot for C-SPAN2 and move it to Channel 78," Davis said. It will share the channel with "78 Hawaii."

There should be no disruption in the broadcasts -- just a switch in channels on Feb. 9.

"We're looking at a whole group of other changes" involving the digital channel lineup and family channels, Davis said.

Meanwhile, under the DCCA's order, 'Olelo has to provide viewership statistics nine months after gaining access to Channel 49 to show that a sixth public access channel is warranted.

Q: Can the sinking pavement at Kamehameha Highway and Keole Street at the traffic light be fixed? It is getting worse and is hard on the cars. The sinking is right in the crosswalk on Kamehameha Highway, mauka side of the street.

A: The city Department of Facility Maintenance's Road Maintenance Division checked the site and said it will schedule a repair for early February.

Auwe

Recently, I saw a woman hit by a car while jaywalking. Please inform your readers how dangerous this is, not only jaywalking, but in the early morning when it is dark. It is impossible to judge by the headlights of a vehicle how close it is or how fast it is traveling. -- No Name